New Hufford, Gompers Junior Highs: Voters Say Yes To D86 Referendum

JOLIET, IL — With all precincts reporting, voters appeared to have decisively approved a proposal to spend $100 million to build two new junior high schools and make a substantial addition to a west side grade school.

“On behalf of District 86, I truly want to thank the voters for supporting us. We are very grateful to our families and community members for recognizing the needs we have across our buildings.” said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Theresa Rouse. “My gratitude to Tony Contos and J.D. Ross who chaired the Citizens in Support of District 86 Referendum group. The committee members spent endless time getting information out to Joliet voters.”

Polls officially closed at 7 p.m. Early voting and vote-by-mail ballots are included in the total. Provisional ballots and late arriving vote-by-mail ballots are not included, according to the Will County Clerk's Office. All results are unofficial.

JOLIET PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT 86 BOND MEASURE

Shall District 86 issue bonds to the amount of $99,500,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?

With polls closed, here's where things stood with all precincts reporting:

• Yes: 5,337
• No: 2,117

The $99.5 million bond measure calls for tearing down Hufford Junior High on Larkin Avenue, tearing down Gompers Junior High and building new junior high schools on both properties. Jefferson Elementary on Glenwood will undergo an addition.

According to District 86: "Hufford Junior High School was built 66 years ago and no longer meets the needs of today’s students. Due to a lack of space, two modular classrooms have been in use for the past 20 years ... Building a new school would address the population overflow and help create a more healthy, safe, and secure environment for all students."

Joliet Public Schools District 86 is the third-largest elementary school district in Illinois with a student enrollment of approximately 9,620 and 1,669 employees.

Most of the money will be used to replace two junior high schools — Gompers Junior High (originally built in 1958) and Hufford Junior High School (built in 1956). In addition, four classrooms and a multipurpose room will be added at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. Remaining funds will be used for restroom renovations, security upgrades, and the technology infrastructure will be addressed at all schools throughout the school district. The average age of Joliet District 86’s schools is 68 years.

“The impact of these investments will provide high-quality, innovative, and equitable learning spaces for students, teachers, and families across our district,” said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Board of School Inspectors President Erick Deshaun Dorris. “Thankfully, we are able to borrow these funds without increasing the debt service tax rate.”

The debt issuance that Joliet Public Schools District 86 is considering requires voter approval. A referendum question needs 50 percent approval, plus one additional “yes” vote, to be successful. With all precincts in, more than 71 percent of voters said yes.

As for Gompers Junior High along Briggs Street on the Joliet's east side, the 64-year-old building has also reached the end of its useful life, according to District 86.

In regard to Gompers, the District 86 flier unveiling plans for the $100 million bond measure states, "Replacing the school makes greater economic sense than trying to repair, renovate, and reconfigure the school. Similar to Hufford Junior High School, the plan calls for the new school to be built directly across from the existing school. Once complete, the old school would be demolished, making way for new ball fields."

As for Jefferson Elementary on Glenwood Avenue, it was built 54 years ago. District officials say the classrooms are too small and do not allow for teachers to have desks. "Additionally, the gym has inadequate space to accommodate sports or proper physical education programming. Adding four new classrooms, creating a new multipurpose room and reconfiguring existing classroom spaces would help solve these issues."

Joliet District 86 officials are suggesting the current tax rate would stay the same.

"Because the District has debt expiring, the proposed financing would not result in an increase in the current tax rate. In fact, by 2030, the tax rate would go down," school officials indicated in a flier mailed to district residents in recent days.

"The last time voters in District 86 approved funding for building improvements was more than 20 years ago, proceeds of which were used to fund Sanchez and Thigpen Elementary Schools. Prior to that, the District had not built a new school in more than 30 years."

The bond question on Tuesday's ballot for District 86 voters read:

Shall the Board of School Inspectors of Joliet School District Number 86, Will County, Illinois, alter, repair and equip existing school buildings, including but not limited to improving safety and security, replacing roofs, plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems, renovating science labs, classrooms and other instructional spaces, installing certain Americans with Disabilities Act compliance measures and updating technology infrastructure; build and equip two school buildings to replace the Hufford Junior High School and Gompers Junior High School Buildings; build and equip an addition to the Jefferson Elementary School Building; improve sites; and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $99,500,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Joliet District 86 Asks Voters to Approve $99.5 Million Referendum

Demolish Hufford, Gompers Junior High Buildings: District 86